Hi Ya’ll   Happy Sunday!  I recently read a blog post that talked about routines which semi-insprired this post because if anyone knows me it’s that I have a full routine on Sundays…

I love Sundays where we have nothing to do because I use Sundays as my cleaning, washing, mentally-preparing and relaxing for the start of another tiring and crazy workweek.  I also started cooking bigger than normal dinners on Sunday and using it as a day for experimentation which means that I can use the leftovers for another meal later in the week which TREMENDOUSLY helps me.  I love love love Sundays to the point where my family knows if anything is going on, it must occur either on Saturday or early afternoon on Sunday (it’s a running joke) so I can still get home in enough time to mentally wind-down and so I can be in bed by 7… no I’m not kidding   I’m 100% a morning person, but not a night person… and by night person, I mean I like to be in bed early and asleep by 9 or else I can’t function (I even get nauseous and headaches – what is wrong w/ me?)  Does anyone else experience this?  I think it’s because I get up so early and work 10 hours a day, head to the gym, then head home to cook dinner and clean up most weeknights… So, I thought I’d share with you one of those recipes that I created last Sunday when we had one of the best Sundays ever where we went to church, got our food shopping done for the week, and then headed home to get stuff done around the house   I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this, so please chime in and let me know

Last Sunday while browsing through the cabinets I noticed a HUGE bag of pistachios that were sitting there lonely.  I asked Bill if he would snack on them throughout the week and he basically said no, so I thought hmmm maybe I’ll try to incorporate them into dinner.  I decided since you can create almond/walnut encrusted dishes, why not try it with pistachios?  The unfortunate thing was that they were still in the shells, so I sat down during the Eagles game and CRACKED away – I do not recommend this method unless you have TONS of time and ultra-strong hands!  I believe they sell shelled pistachios so definitely pick them up if you’re going to try this recipe!

Pistachio Chicken (makes 4 servings)

Ingredients

• 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts (thawed / defrosted)
• 1 cup shelled pistachios
• 1 serving Kashi TLC Crackers (I used Honey Sesame)
• 1 Weetabix
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp spicy mustard
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper (my new obsession but you could also just spray well).
• Cut chicken into strips that resemble chicken tenders or chicken fingers (desired likeness)
• Using a food processor, grind up pistachios.
• Remove pistachios and add kashi crackers and weetabix and grind in food processor again until mixture resembles bread crumbs.
• Combine ground pistachios and “bread crumb” mixture and mix using food processor again to combine well.  Pour mixture into small bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk mustard + syrup + olive oil + s/p well.
• Dip chicken pieces into wet mixture to coat and then into dry “breadcrumb” mixture to coat, as well.  Place on baking sheet
• Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is crisp and cooked well.

Purple Mashed (makes three servings)

Ingredients

• 6 purple fingerling potatoes
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1 part-skim string cheese (you could use shredded cheese, I just had to use this up!)
• liberal amounts of salt and pepper

Directions

• Using a large saucepan, boil water until it comes to a rising boil
• Add in potatoes and boil until soft (depending on range)
• Remove from heat, draining water
• Mash potatoes using a potato masher OR fork
• Add in salt, pepper, milk and peeled string cheese
• Stir mixture well
• Return to heat, cooking and stirring until mixed through and cheese has melted

FInally, when you follow both sets of directions, you get this fantastic combination.  Bill was first taken aback by the purple potatoes but then when he tasted them the reaction I received was “wow, these taste like potatoes”…   He also loved the crunch and flavor of the chicken so much so that he went back for seconds and we also had this “repeat” meal later in the week!

On a side note, our Phillies & Eagles both play today so let’s kick some butt